Know more about Freedom of Information through these infographics from our partner organizations, Team Communication (TeamComm) and Political Science Society (POLISCY) of De La Salle University - Manila.
29 November 2014
28 November 2014
Statement of the FOI Youth Initiative (FYI) on the November 24 committee approval of the People's FOI Act
"Young people are the greatest stakeholders of Freedom of Information. The youth, empowered by FOI, will be the most effective changemakers in our country. This is why I call on them to continue to strengthen their efforts to campaign for the passage of the People's FOI Act."
This was what Rep. Teddy Baguilat (Lone District, Ifugao) told the FOI Youth Initiative (FYI) after the House Committee on Public Information hearing last November 24, 2014 when the measure was approved.
We welcome this development in our struggle to pass the People's FOI Act into law. Likewise, we thank our FOI champions and authors in the House led by Representatives Baguilat, Kaka Bag-ao (Lone District, Dinagat Islands), Leni Robredo (3rd District, Camarines Sur), Emmeline Aglipay-Villar (DIWA Party-List), Dina Abad (Lone District, Batanes), Leah Paquiz (ANG NARS Party-List), and Barry Gutierrez and Walden Bello (Akbayan Party-List) for consistently defending and upholding the people's right to information. We also express our gratitude to the Committee Chairperson, Rep. Jorge Almonte (1st District, Misamis Occidental), and the members who voted in favor of the People's FOI Act, a product of a long series of debates and discussions at the Techinical Working Group.
We in the FYI reiterate our support for the People's FOI Act, a consolidation of 24 proposals, including the bill that we filed under the Right to Know, Right Now! Coalition through a petition for indirect initiative, as mandated by Republic Act No. 6735 or the Initiative and Referendum Act.
As sponsors of the People's FOI Act (Petition No. 0001) who have always been present in all committee meetings, we attest to the integrity of the process that the measure went through. Moreover, we affirm that this version of the FOI bill is the best one yet. We concur with the Coalition and our House champions in saying that "[t]he TWG FOI Bill is not a weak bill. It is a genuine and strong FOI bill that fully protects the people's right to information while carefully balancing it with legitimate interests of individuals, the state, and the bureaucracy." Arguments to the contrary have been fully addressed and answered not just in the TWG meetings, but also in the final hours before the measure was finally approved by an overwhelming majority in the Committee on Public Information hearing.
We ask the public, especially our peers among the youth, to be critical and constructive. We request everyone to read the People's FOI Act itself, and not mere press releases that seek to cast doubt and undermine the efforts of advocates within and beyond Congress.
We call on the members of the House, especially its leaders, to fulfill their constitutional mandate to "give highest priority to the enactment of measures that protect and enhance the right of all the people to human dignity, reduce social, economic, and political inequalities, and remove cultural inequities by equitably diffusing wealth and political power for the common good." This clearly includes the passage of the People's FOI Act.
The FYI will continue to be vigilant in watching over the progress of the bill in the House of Representatives. It is within our power as active citizens to expose unnecessary delays that would clearly attempt to derail the approval of the measure. At this juncture, in light of the various government scandals that have arisen, there is no more room for excuses. Now is the time for decisive and steadfast action. Now is the time for the People's Freedom of Information.
__________________________
Consolidated People's FOI Act approved by the House Committee on Public Information last 24 November 2014: http://bit.ly/1zZSCFw
How Representatives voted in the November 24 committee hearing: http://youth4foi.blogspot.com/2014/11/BantayBatasanCommitteeVOTES.html
Right to Know, Right Now! Coalition and FOI champions' response to the position of the Makabayan Bloc: http://bit.ly/1rC9wot
25 November 2014
"Kamatuodan sa FOI (Truth in FOI)" - LAWÔD [UP Diliman, Bicol University, and Silliman University]
[MASBATENYO TRANSLATION]
Kamatuodan sa FOI
Kami an LAWÔD – usad na grupo san mga organisasyon san mga Masbatenyo na nagaadal yana sa University of the Philippines Diliman sa Quezon City, sa Bicol University sa Legazpi City, Albay kag sa Silliman University sa Dumaguete City. Tanan kami nagapanamgo – an pag-uswag san Probinsya san Masbate.
Sadto pa man, nakita na namon kun pano nagtangis kag nagpakalisod an mga Masbatenyo para sa kaayuhan san Masbate. Kada tulo ka tuig, pirmi na lang namon kinabutang sa posisyon an mga liderato na dapat unta sinda an nagapadayon san kauswagan san amon probinsya. Guinhatagan namon sinda san amon tiwala. Guinhatagan namon sinda san boses. Guinhatagan namon sinda san awtoridad. Pero nano an nangyari? Nabubuhay kami na bagan waran nagbag-o. Dili pa gayud namon batyag an pag-uswag.
Oo, damo nan pagbabag-o. May mga bag-o na aktibidades, mga bag-o na kamino, mga bag-o na waiting shed, mga bag-o na basketball court, mga bag-o na classroom, kag mga bag-o na conference halls. Sabiha lang. Bagan kadamo man gayud san bag-o. Pero nano kay kun kitaon gayud san maayo ini na mga proyekto, bagan mas mahal pa sinda sa matuod ninda na presyo? Nano kay kun igwa pa san guinapangayo na mga dokumento sani na mga proyekto, wara man lang sinda san maihatag na maski dyutay na report? Kag an mas mabug-at pa, nano kay kun may igwa san guinapangayo na maski nano na record, an amon gobyerno kay kadugay-dugay maghatag san aksyon? Kag may mga oras pa na wara gayud ninda pakiarami?
Dugay na kami nagaparahunga, pero ada lang guihapon ini na mga hunga – wara guinpakiarama kag wara guinhatagan san sabat. An pirmi lang namon nababaton sa inda kay mga waran klaro na palusot kag mga buwa. Sobra-sobra na. An amon probinsya kay sobra-sobra na an guin-agihan. Tama na.
Pero syempre, ini na amon panawagan kay dili lang para sa amon probinsya. Kay kami estudyante na hali sa paiba-iba na eskwelahan, nakita man namon kun pano an iba na parte san aton bansa an nakadanas man san pareho kaibahan na mga pangyayari. Kag kami, habo man namon na madanasan ini utro sa maabot na panahon.
Nagatuod kami na igwa pa san pag-asa.
Sani na ika-24 san Nobyembre, 2014, sa pagdeliberate san Committee on Public Information san House of Representatives san consolidated Freedom of Information (FOI) Bill, kinapakusog pa namon an amon panawagan para sa transparency kag accountability sa goberyno. Guinapanawagan namon an aton mga kongresista kag senador na iudong na an pagapadugay san mga karapatan na dapat guinatamasa na san mga Pilipino sadto pa – an karapatan naton sa freedom of information. Guinapangayo man namon an pansin san mga kongresista na hali sa amon probinsya – sinda Marvi E. Bravo san una na distrito, Elisa “Olga” T. Kho san ikaduwa na distrito, kag Scott Davies S. Lanete san ikatulo na distrito, na suportahan man unta ninda ini na amon panawagan.
Gusto namon an kamatuodan.
Siyak namon tanan, FOI now!
24 November 2014
27 October 2014
Youth Manifesto for the Passage of the People's Freedom of Information Act in the 16th Congress (WARAY)
Kami an FOI Youth Initiative (FYI), an pangnasud nga kaurupdan han mga kabataan ngan mga mag-aaram nga naaro hin klaro ngan malimpyo nga gobyerno pinaagi ngahaw hiton pagpabalaud han People’s Freedom of Information Act.
Nakikiurusa kami ha iba-iba nga dapit hiton aton katilingban bahin han mga tuod ngan klarado nga pinaagi basi magkamayda kita hin matatapuran nga gobyerno.
Natuod kami han aton katungod ha impormasyon nga nakabutang ha aton Konstitusyon na angay man gud masunod pinaagi han People’s FOI Act basi pirmi turuan han mga opisyales ngan empleyado han gobyerno ini nga katungod.
Natuod kami nga pinaagi han People’s FOI Act, maiibanan an korupsyon ngan mas damo nga mga Pilipino an mabubuligan tungod nga mas damo na an makakaapi han pagpanguna ha gobyerno.
Diri kami nabali han pag-upod hin Right of Reply nga probisyon ha FOI Bill tungod kay diri ini sabot hit Konstitusyon ngan katungod han media nga magsamwak hin kamaturuan. Diri sabot an Right of Reply nga probisyon ha FOI bill nga napatuod han aton katungod ha impormasyon.
Gintatawag namon hi Presidente Benigno S. Aquino III nga tumanun an iya saad nga mga reporma ngan suporta niya han pagpasa hini na FOI Bill.
Ginhahangyuan namon an mga Senador ngan Representate han ika-16 nga Kongreso nga unahon na an pagpabalaud han FOI bill ngan pagpaligid hin bisan ano nga makakaulang han pagpabalaud hini.
Ngan katapos, gintatawag namon an amon igkasi-lider han mga kabataan nga umapi ngan bumulig ha pagpabalaud han panukala nga People’s FOI Act basi mabag-o an aton gobyerno tungod ha pagiging institusyon nga angay hin pagtapod ngan paglaum han mga tawo nga ginseserbisyuhan hini.
21 October 2014
Youth Manifesto for the Passage of the People's Freedom of Information Act in the 16th Congress (HILIGAYNON)
Kami ang FOI Youth Initiative (FYI), isa ka alyansa sang mga pamatan-on kag mga organisasyon sa pungsod nga naga panawagan para sa tampad kag masaligan nga panggobierno paagi sa madasig nga pag-pasar sang People’s Freedom of Information Act.
Naga-isa kami sa mga nalain-lain nga mga sektor sang katillingban sa paghimud-os para sa mas mabakod nga mekanismo sang panggobierno nga bukas kag tampad sa mga pumuluyo.
Ginapanindugan namon ang aton kinamatarung sa impormasyon nga ara sa aton konstitusyon. Dapat nga ma-institutionalize pamaagi sa People’s FOI Act para magarantiya nga mangin bukas ang mga opisyal publiko kag empleyado sa mga katungdanan nila sa ila mga posisyon.
Nagapati kami nga ang people’s FOI Act isa ka paagi nga mabuhinan o matapna ang korupsyon kag maduso sang gobyerno ang participatory nga panghimanwa nga makabulig sa tanan nga Pilipino.
Wala kami nagapasugot nga maupod ang Right of Reply sa aton nga FOI Bill kay madula ang rason kon ngaa ginbalay ta ang amo na nga batas. Kag ina nga rason ay ang pagpabakod sang katungod sa impormasyon sang tanan nga Pilipino.
Gapanawag kami sa Presidente Benigno S. Aquino III nga indi lang magdeklara sang suporta sa pagpasar sang FOI bill kundi pag-certify pa gid sini nga urgent para matabo ang iya nga panaad nga reporma sa mga tawo.
Ginapangayo namon sa tanan nga mga Senador kag Representante sang 16th Congress nga unahon ang FOI bill sa ila legislative agenda kag kuhaon ang mga sablag nga nagapadugay sang pag-pasar sini.
Gapanawagan kami sa tanan nga mga pamatan-on kag estudyante nga mag upod sa amon sa pag-sulong sa pagpasar sang peoples FOI Act nga mangin batas kag ilabi na gid ang pagbaylo sang aton gobierno sa institusyon nga masaligan sang katawhan nga ila ginaserbisyuhan.
22 May 2014
15 May 2014
13 May 2014
19 April 2014
[VIDEO] Our Message to the Executive and the Legislative Branches of the Philippine Government: #PeoplesFOInow!
Read the full text of the YOUTH MANIFESTO FOR THE PASSAGE OF THE PEOPLE’S FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT IN THE 16TH CONGRESS: http://bit.ly/FYImanifesto
[VIDEO] FOI is a YOUTH issue!
What are the reasons why Freedom of Information is a YOUTH issue? Watch the video to find out!
We're inviting Filipino youth and student organizations to be part of our campaign for the People's FOI Act! Click on this link to access our online form for new partner organizations: http://bit.ly/JoinFYI
16 April 2014
[VIDEO] We are the FOI Youth Initiative.
The FOI Youth Initiative (FYI) is a national network of more than a hundred Filipino youth and student organizations that call for transparency, accountability, and participation in government through the immediate passage of the People's Freedom of Information Act. Watch our video to know more about our campaign. #PeoplesFOInow!
15 April 2014
[VIDEO] What is FOI?
Ano nga ba ang Freedom of Information? Panoorin ang video para malaman kung ano ito at kung ano ang ginagawa ng kabataan para rito. #PeoplesFOInow!
02 April 2014
What's Wrong with the Right of Reply?
So far, there is no RIGHT OF REPLY provision in the proposed Freedom of Information bills in the House of Representatives and the Senate. However, we need to be vigilant. We cannot allow the insertion of this provision in the FOI Law because it is unconstitutional and anti-press freedom. Know more about the Right of Reply through this infographic by the UP Economics Towards Consciousness.
FOI Bill Progress in the 16th Congress (as of 15 March 2014)
Where are we now in our struggle for the passage of the Freedom of Information Act? Find out what has happened to the FOI Bill so far in the legislative process of the House of Representatives and the Senate through this infographic.
14 February 2014
[FYI in the Inquirer] Letter to the Editor: ‘You’ve got nothing to fear if you’ve got nothing to hide’
From http://opinion.inquirer.net/69097/youve-got-nothing-to-fear-if-youve-got-nothing-to-hide.
The year 2013 has just ended and we’re barely into the new year. It’s the perfect time to look back at our victories and successes, but it’s also an opportune time to think about the steps we’d like to take moving forward. That’s why the new year is the time when people start making resolutions and renewing promises long forgotten.
A resolution that we’d like to see from our government, if that government does choose to move on the straight road forward, is a commitment to transparency and accountability. For all the talk of reform and the clamor against corruption, there is one great resolution that has yet to be realized: the Freedom of Information Law. It is a resolution, an old promise, that we’ve been trying to keep for more than 20 years now.
Now, more than any other time, we are hopeful. We are hopeful that our Congress will finally decide to take that great step towards reform. We are hopeful that our public servants finally make the change to end all the corruption and abuse of power we are so tired of hearing about. The new year gives us new hope: that our government can finally act out that commitment to a transparent, accountable and democratic standard.
The Senate is making great progress with the FOI bill. But this leaves much to be desired from the House of Representatives which has a great deal of catching-up to do. So to the representatives of the people who are having second thoughts or doubts about the FOI bill, you’ve got nothing to fear if you’ve got nothing to hide.
Hopefully, 2014 will be the year when we can finally fulfill that commitment to the freedom of information.
—AJ MONTESA,
President, UP Economics Towards Consciousness (ETC);
Convener, FOI Youth Initiative (FYI),
youth4foi@gmail.com
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